Can young people truly build a world-class church—in the heart of one of the world’s most expensive, influential, and diverse cities?
On today’s episode of The Missional Leader, Rob talks with Pastor Tan Seow How, co-founder of Heart of God Church (HOGC) in Singapore—a thriving young adult church known for flipping the script on what church can be for the next generation.
Globally recognized for its “by youth, for youth, to reach youth” approach, HOGC is breaking boundaries in a city famed for finance, fun, and cultural pluralism. Pastor How shares the remarkable story of how he and his wife, Pastor Lia, followed a bold calling to build a ministry where belonging comes first—empowering thousands of young people, many from non-church backgrounds, to discover faith and purpose. Plus, Pastor How shares strategies for building community across Singapore’s church population and how collaboration among young pastors and leaders is paving the way for a new era of mission-driven unity.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Heart of God Church: https://heartofgodchurch.org/
Rob’s Outreach article on HOGC: https://outreachmagazine.com/features/82687-the-greatest-youth-church-in-the-world.html
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Flipping the Church Belonging Model for Gen Z
05:52 Heart of God Church: A Youth-Led Experiment
09:18 Building a Church by Youth, for Youth: The Miracle Story
11:23 Church as Home: Kids from Broken Families Find Belonging
15:53 Empowering Youth as Immediate Leaders and Servants
19:56 Behind the Scenes: Young Teens Run the Church Operations
23:01 Balancing Success and Purpose in Affluent Singapore
32:28 Discipling Gen Z: Navigating Truth in a Digital Age
36:05 Relational Equity: The Key to Teaching Biblical Values
40:02 High Touch vs High Tech: Why Youth Choose Physical Church
43:34 Youth Unity: Singapore's Next Generation Churches Collaborate
45:24 Mission-Driven Unity: Gen Z’s Collaborative Spirit
46:54 Closing Blessing: Building Models for the Next Generation
What if the greatest opportunities for sharing the Gospel are found where the opposition is strongest? In this episode of The Missional Leader, Rob talks with Dr. Barry Corey, president of Biola University and a leading voice in Christian higher education. For almost two decades, Dr. Corey has led through the challenges of culture, politics, and faith in the heart of Southern California, one of the most progressive areas in the United States.—
From his New England roots to leading in California’s shifting cultural landscape, Dr. Corey , shares vulnerably about the burdens and breakthroughs of leadership, and what it means to stay grounded in biblical truth while boldly engaging today’s world.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Biola University: https://www.biola.edu/
Washington Post Op-Ed: "We first battled over LGBT and religious rights. Here’s how we became friends." by Barry Corey and Evan Low: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/03/03/we-first-battled-over-lgbt-and-religious-rights-heres-how-we-became-unlikely-friends/
Doritos Super Bowl commercial made by Biola film students:
https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-news/2025/biola-alumni-on-their-way-to-crash-the-super-bowl
OneHope Research - Gen Alpha
https://onehope.net/global-outreach/research/
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Trusting God’s Tailwinds in Leadership
01:12 The Life-Changing Bob Cooley Mentorship
02:28 Necessary: Flourishing Under the Weight of Leadership
03:50 Surviving and Thriving in Challenging Higher Ed Climates
05:32 Leading Christian Education in Progressive California
07:48 God’s Tailwinds vs. Cultural Headwinds
09:49 Building Unexpected Friendships Across Ideological Divides
12:48 Listening to Learn, Not Just to Respond
15:19 Firm Center, Soft Edges: Biola’s Approach to Controversy
17:39 Balancing Truth and Grace in University Culture
20:13 Excellence as Apologetics: Biola’s Award-Winning Doritos Story
22:35 Avoiding the Culture War Mentality
24:00 Ensuring Deep Biblical Foundations for Students
25:55 Hopeful Signs and Concerns for the Next Generation
28:46 Lessons from Europe’s “Quiet Revival”
30:14 Challenging Churches to Deepen Discipleship for Gen Z
Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing—Oxford-trained theologian and leading Christian apologist—is captivating Gen Z by combining deep biblical theology with with a disarming, whimsical love for people.
In this episode of The Missional Leader, Amy shares her remarkable journey from atheistic family roots to a transformative encounter with Jesus, and how that awakening propelled her to engage the toughest questions at the world’s leading universities. Together with Rob, she explores how the church can faithfully respond to a generation grappling with anxiety, identity, and a hunger for truth. With clarity and compassion, Amy models a trinitarian, Spirit-empowered approach to apologetics that wins both hearts and minds — one that values persuasion over pride and empathy over ego.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
OneHope Research - Gen Alpha and Gen Z:
https://onehope.net/global-outreach/research
Feed - Core Questions Devotional:
https://feed.bible/core-questions
"The Quiet Revival" Research Report, Bible Society:
https://theresource.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-Quiet-Revival.pdf
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Persuading Heart and Mind: Pascal’s Approach to Apologetics
02:55 Childhood Atheism to Apologist: Amy’s Unlikely Journey
04:04 Supernatural Encounter: Early Experience with Healing
07:53 Oxford Ultimatum: Career or Christ?
09:39 The Hidden Intolerance of Secular Academia
11:41 Arguments vs. Heart: Winning People, Not Just Debates
13:43 Facing a Panel: Spiritual and Intellectual Showdown
16:02 Courage, Fear, and Holy Spirit Empowerment
18:23 Confronting a Mob: Listening to Angry Students
21:26 Righteous Rage, Broken World: Turning Anger into Apologetics
24:37 Anxiety & Toxic Certainty: New Generation, New Challenges
28:20 Jordan Peterson Effect: Why Young Men Seek Church
29:51 Church’s Call: Preach a Robust, Demanding Faith
30:25 Preparation Meets Dependence: Mind on Fire, Heart Reliant
Rob's Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/robdeanhoskins/
https://www.facebook.com/robhoskins/
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https://www.threads.com/@robdeanhoskins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-hoskins-3646454/
What does it take to raise a generation that doesn’t just attend church, but actually transforms culture? In this episode of The Missional Leader, Rob sits down with Teo Hayashi, one of the youngest and most influential leaders in the global church, founder of the Dunamis Movement, and lead pastor of Zion Church, whose vision is igniting a wave of young leaders across Brazil and beyond.
Born in Japan and raised in Brazil, Teo’s multicultural story and supernatural encounters have fueled a movement that has grown from a small gathering in São Paulo to a multi-campus megachurch impacting nations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Together, Rob and Teo unpack how the Church can disciple the next generation with passion and purpose, moving beyond Sunday services to a lifestyle of mission, revival, and cultural renewal.
If you care about the future of the Church and how to equip young leaders to shape society, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
The Gospel of the Kingdom, by George Eldon Ladd
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Kingdom-Scriptural-Studies-God/dp/1614270562
The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, by Lesslie Newbigin
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Pluralist-Society-Lesslie-Newbigin/dp/0802804268
To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World, by James Davidson Hunter
https://www.amazon.com/Change-World-Tragedy-Possibility-Christianity/dp/0199730806
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Rethinking Church: Local Care and Global Mission
03:31 Teo’s Multicultural Roots and Family Mission Story
07:33 Choosing Between Movement and Local Church
10:32 Balancing Mega Church with Missional Movement
12:16 Embracing Energy in Ministry Tension
13:45 Gospel of the Kingdom vs. Gospel of Salvation
17:14 Why Brazil’s Church Growth Lacks Societal Change
20:19 Equipping Young People for Vocational Purpose
23:02 Four KPIs for Measuring Church Transformation
27:36 Deep Discipleship in a Megachurch Context
29:09 Teo’s Global Apostolic Vision for Zion Church
To learn more about Kingdomcity Church, visit https://kingdomcity.com. You can also learn more on Kingdomcity's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/kingdomcity.
How does a ministry grow from one city to 40 campuses in 22 countries, and still stay true to its calling? In this episode of The Missional Leader, Rob sits down with Kingdomcity Church founder Mark Varughese to unpack how revival culture, unity, and trust can scale across nations without compromise.
With a unique global perspective – born in Singapore, raised in Malaysia, of Indian descent, and holding an Australian passport – Mark shares the leadership principles, cultural insights, and communication rhythms that have fueled Kingdomcity’s explosive growth while keeping its mission unshakable.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Revival Atmosphere in a Relational Culture
02:14 Mark’s Global Identity Crisis and Divine Preparation
04:13 The Burning Bush Moment: Leaving Law to Plant a Church
05:58 Kingdom City’s Rapid Multinational Growth Explained
08:03 Building a Strong Culture Across Diverse Nations
11:16 Kingdom vs City: Non-Negotiables and Contextualization
12:08 How Kingdom Values Translate Across Cultures
15:24 Maintaining Culture: Practical Tools for Rapid Growth
16:48 Relational Culture: The Secret to Sustained Revival
20:49 Adapting Leadership Structures for Global Scale
22:16 Principles vs Preferences: The Key to Unity
24:45 Giving Trust First: Mark’s Risk-Taking Leadership Philosophy
26:39 Leadership Pipeline: The Challenge of Rapid Expansion
27:45 Developing Global Leaders for the Next Generation
28:26 Closing: Building the Global Church in a Changing World
Rob's Socials:
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-hoskins-3646454/
To learn more about Rob's new book, "Theology of the City," visit https://robhoskins.onehope.net/theology-of-the-city.
In this episode, Rob sits down with Pastor Ivan Carluer, the visionary behind Martin Luther King (MLK) Church in Paris—one of the fastest-growing urban churches globally. In the heart of post-Christian France, MLK is defying expectations: baptizing over 500 new believers in a single year, hosting five weekend services, and launching a $30 million community center that’s reimagining how the Church can serve the city.
Ivan shares how he models his ministry after the Apostle Paul—boldly contextualizing the Gospel without compromising its truth. From building friendships with imams and bishops to welcoming progressive politicians into church services, he’s forging unlikely partnerships with humility and conviction.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Same Spirit, New Model
02:26 From Brittany to Paris: Ivan’s Call to Ministry
04:44 Planting a Church in a Communist Stronghold
07:36 Contextual Innovation and Naming MLK
10:51 Navigating Pluralism with Evangelical Conviction
13:55 Serving the City Through Architecture and Presence
17:26 The MLK Community Center Model
19:10 500 Baptisms a Year and Organic Church Growth
21:26 Engaging Cultural Questions Head-On
23:56 Redefining Church Attendance and B&B Church
27:46 Becoming a Revolutionary Church
29:17 Unity Through the Next Generation
31:35 Final Reflections on Reformation and Relevance
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Rob's Socials:
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Rob sits down with his good friend and internationally-known pastor, Craig Groeschel. Best known for his dynamic leadership and influence through Life.Church and his global leadership podcast, Craig gives listeners a rare, behind-the-scenes look into his life as a father and grandfather.
Together Craig and Rob talk about how Craig and his wife, Amy, raised six children—who are all now serving in ministry—Craig emphasizing that successful parenting isn't about having the perfect system, but being spirit-led, consistent, and deeply relational. Craig and Amy homeschooled their kids and tailored their parenting style to each child individually, focusing more on creating a life-giving culture than enforcing rigid rules.
Craig also shares some of their parenting mistakes, like relying too much on formulas, plus powerful wins like keeping his marriage strong and cultivating a spiritual environment in their home. Craig and Rob also discuss the spiritual responsibilities of parents, the dangers of technology distraction, and the critical role of grace and truth in discipleship.
This conversation will give practical insights into how Life.Church intentionally supports family health among its staff—offering resources, counseling, and mentorship to ensure that parenting is never sacrificed for professional success. Craig’s message to parents: you are still the most influential voice in your child’s life—use it well.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:
Parent Platform - A new parent initiative is in development with OneHope and partner churches including Life.Church. Slated to be released in 2026, the platform aims to provide church leaders with strategy, training, and resources to help them partner with parents as they disciple their children.
For relevant parent resources in the meantime, visit:
https://resources.onehope.net/parent-resource-hub/p/1.
Gen Alpha Research - https://onehope.net/global-outreach/research.
Life.Church Parent Resources - https://www.life.church/parents.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Technology, Distraction, and Intimacy
01:46 Craig and Rob Talk Family and Grandkids
02:29 How Craig and Amy Built a Parenting Culture
04:21 Creating a Unique Parenting Playbook for Each Child
05:29 Parenting Mistakes and Do-Overs
07:55 Structure, Discipline, and Disruption in Parenting
09:52 Spanking, Consistency, and Generational Shifts
11:28 Amy’s Role in Homeschooling and Family Culture
12:53 Navigating Identity Post-Parenting
14:55 The Church’s Role in Supporting Parents
16:53 Creating a Parenting-First Culture at Life.Church
19:19 Research on Alpha Generation and Parental Influence
21:32 The Call to Parents to Be Present
22:27 Building a Culture of Open Conversation
24:18 Parenting Resources and the Need for Wisdom
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Rob's Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/robdeanhoskins/
https://www.facebook.com/robhoskins/
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-hoskins-3646454/
Mart Green, Missouri-born heir to the Hobby Lobby legacy and founder of Mardel Christian & Education, sits down with Rob on today’s episode of The Missional Leader to unpack the principles behind his family’s extraordinary generosity.
From monthly "marble-votes” and the 6 T’s of giving to launching illumiNations—an inter-ministry partnership focused on eradicating Bible poverty—the conversation centers on values-driven impact.
Mart also reflects on his grandmother's sacrificial giving and the 1998 trip to Guatemala that ignited both his personal relationship with Jesus and a global effort towards Bible translation. This conversation delivers tangible insights for leaders eager to cultivate generosity in heart and action!
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro: Foundations of Generosity
02:25 Family Voting & Marble Metaphor
04:34 The R–S–T Filter Explained
07:01 Six T’s of Generosity & G–H–I Values
13:25 Launching illumiNations & Eradicating Bible Poverty
16:59 The 2033 “All‑Access” Bible Vision
18:00 Overcoming Board & CEO Resistance
21:02 Swimming Downstream: Collective Philanthropy
23:29 Grandmother’s Legacy & Sacrificial Gifts
26:00 Closing Reflections & Rob’s Thanks
Welcome to the launch of The Missional Leader—a podcast for Kingdom-minded leaders looking for mission-forward insight, practical strategies, and Spirit-led solutions.
Hosted by Rob Hoskins, President of OneHope, each conversation you’ll get to listen in on is designed to fuel your calling, strengthen your leadership, and empower you to advance the Gospel with clarity, courage, and conviction.
On this first episode of season 1, Rob sits down with Bobby Gruenewald—founder of YouVersion— for a rich, wide-ranging conversation about the mindset of an innovator. Together Rob and Bobby discuss how risk is inseparable from innovation, framing it in three key categories: feasibility, market, and sustainability.
Bobby explains how a mindset rooted in abundance, not scarcity, empowers leaders to risk failure without fear. He also highlights the spiritual and practical value of relationships over resources, stressing that “everything comes through people.” Finally, Rob and Bobby discuss how humility and stewardship keep innovation grounded in mission, not ego.
We pray this conversation will give you insight into the discipline of innovation—emphasizing that relationships are the true currency of Kingdom leadership and any innovative endeavor. We’re honored to have you along for the journey of The Missional Leader!
The Technology Adoption Lifecycle:
https://diffusion-research.org/diffusion-theory-extensions-and-adaptations
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Identity & creative freedom
00:33 Opening conversation and welcome
03:02 Risks in innovation
05:26 Risk framework: feasibility, market, business
10:31 Innovator or early adopter?
14:14 Learning from YouVersion’s first failure
18:50 Pivoting to mobile for breakthrough
19:40 Doubt, identity & resilience
22:05 The tree vs. fruit metaphor
25:20 Abundance mindset in innovation
28:53 Culture, relationships & stewardship
